Sciencenews.org has a very interesting story about the accidental result of surgery to close a patent foramen ovale (PFO), which is a hole between the upper chambers of the heart that all fetuses have, but that are supposed to close over on their own after the baby is born. In the U.S., complete closure doesn’t occur in 25% of the population.
The accident is that the patients report being cured of migraine headaches. Although comprehensive studies have yet to be done, the theory is that the hole allows foreign objects in the blood like air bubbles, clots or dissolved chemicals to bypass the lungs where they would be exhaled or broken down, and head straight up to the brain, causing migraines, and eventually, strokes. It’s the stroke victims that have had this procedure done that are reporting migraine relief.
I’ve suffered from headaches and migraines my entire life; I can’t pretend not to find this extremely interesting.
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by Susan
29 Aug 2005 at 15:16
I have had 3 to 5 migraine headaches every month since 1981. My headaches seem to be hormonal, but the information on the heart was intriguing. I have Mitral Valve Prolapse. I wonder if the floppiness of the Mitral Valve could do the same thing that the hole in the heart is doing.
Anybody know? Susan
by Jennifer
28 Nov 2005 at 10:21
I just heard about PFO last week after my uncle read about it. Then I started doing some research into it. It’s very interesting. I have suffered from migraines my whole life…I remember getting them even before starting kindergarten. I’m now 24. I sometimes have a headache every day of the week. No one has ever found a reason for them. Just last year I was found to have an irregular heartbeat. Now I am wondering if the two things are linked.
by carolin
29 Jun 2008 at 19:53
It’s very referential and useful for migraine management. To complete migraine treatment, you might need to have two free bonuses of ebooks: Healing Food and Pennasia Sleep Therapy (Pleet). Visit at PennasiaNormalization.com for further. I also get two free bonuses of ebooks when I enter forum. Have a nice day!